Accessible vehicles and equipment: scheme rules

How to apply

To apply to be an accredited provider, you must:

• complete the Accessible Vehicles and Equipment Accreditation application form.
• attach any evidence supporting your application.
• email the form and supporting evidence to AVE@gov.scot by 24th February 2023.

Applications submitted after 24th February will not be accepted.

Application decisions

The accreditation committee will typically make a decision within two months of receiving an application. In exceptional circumstances, they might need longer. If more time is required to decide, we will notify the applicant within the two month period with reasons for the delay.

Applicants may be asked to attend a meeting with the accreditation committee. We'll give the applicant at least 4 weeks' notice of any meetings.

A decision to award accreditation will include:

• the period the accreditation will be valid for
• the purpose of the accreditation
• the conditions of the accreditation, which may include training or continued membership of or registration with a professional regulatory body.

Providing evidence to support an application

Applicants should consider what evidence they can include to support their responses. Examples of relevant evidence are included on the application for accreditation.

The accreditation committee will be looking for the appropriate evidence when scoring each question. For example, they might provide a business plan or additional information such as:

• promotional flyers
• links to a website
• copies of annual audited accounts
• confirmation of their consumer credit license
• copies of insurance policies
• copies of organisational policies on complaints and customer service
• testimonials

The accreditation committee

An accreditation committee will be set up by the Scottish Government. The committee will be responsible for making decisions about:

• which suppliers will receive accreditation
• any withdrawals or suspensions of accreditation
• the outcome of any complaints

The committee will be made up of a minimum of 3 members including one chairperson. Members will be appointed from the Senior Civil Service at the level of deputy director or above. The committee may also include a representative external to the Scottish Government. Decisions will be taken by a majority of the members. The committee will be able to regulate its own procedures for dealing with matters, subject to the rules of the scheme.

If a member has a connection to an applicant

If a committee member has a connection to an applicant, they should disclose this and immediately withdraw from the process.

This connection could be either:

• a close, direct, personal or financial connection
• a connection to a subsidiary or parent entity of the applicant

Once they withdraw, they will:

• take no further part in deliberation or decision-making in relation to the applicant
• not be present during any discussion of the applicant
• be replaced by an alternative Accreditation Committee member

An alternative member will be appointed, subject to the same membership terms.

How the application process works

The application form has 6 sections with questions on the client's ability to meet the minimum standards and conditions.

Section 1: Applicant information

The applicant will be asked to provide information about their business and any groups, partnerships or other entities.

Section 2: Grounds for exclusion

This section is to check if the applicant has any ground that will exclude them from applying.

Section 3: Standard conditions

This section covers the applicant's ability to meet the standard conditions. Applicants must meet all of the conditions in order to apply.

Section 4: Minimum service requirements

The section covers the applicants ability to meet the minimum requirements.

Section 5: Minimum requirements for each accreditation category

This section covers the applicants ability to meet the technical requirements for joining the scheme.

Scoring

Each response will be scored from 0 to 4 based on the evidence provided. Applicants must score a minimum of 2 for each question. If an applicant does not reach the required score, their application will be refused.

If an applicant fails to reach the required score, this will result in the accreditation committee refusing the application for accreditation.

The criteria for each score is as follows:

• Unacceptable: Nil or inadequate response. Fails to show previous experience/capacity/capability relevant to this criterion.
• Poor: The response is partially relevant but generally poor. The response shows some elements of relevance to the criteria. There is insufficient evidence to show previous relevant experience, capacity or capability.
• Acceptable: The response is relevant and acceptable. It shows broad previous experience, knowledge and skills/capacity/capability. It may lack in some aspects of similarity e.g. previous experience, knowledge or skills may not be of a similar nature.
• Good: The response is relevant and good. The response is sufficiently detailed. It shows a good amount of experience, knowledge or skills/capacity/capability relevant to providing similar services to similar clients.
• Excellent: The response is completely relevant and excellent overall. The response is comprehensive, unambiguous. It shows thorough experience, knowledge or skills/capacity/capability relevant to providing similar services to similar clients.